Take a Hike For The Homeless

Dozens of people will hit the trails of Mount Diablo in a few weeks to help raise money for the homeless.

Shelter Inc. is hosting the 2012 Hike for Shelter on Sunday, Oct. 21. More than 100 participants are collecting donations to raise money for the non-profit organization.

Join in by signing up no later than Oct. 15, or help out by donating to the  individuals and teams taking part.

There are four different hikes, all of which start between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. at Macedo Ranch on the Danville side of the mountain.

There is the China Wall Walk that covers 2.4 miles.

The Castle Rock-Little Yosemite Loop is 5.2 miles long.

The challenging Pine Canyon Loop is listed at 8.4 miles.

The demanding one-way summit hike is 6.7 miles. The last two hikes are estimated to take 4.5 hours.

This is the third straight year Shelter Inc. has held this fall hike. The past two years the hike was at the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Both hikes brought in more than $100,000.

This year, Shelter Inc. officials decided they'd organize the event here.

"We said we have a great mountain in our own back yard, so let's do that," said Amabelle Camba, communications director for Shelter Inc.

Are you taking part in Hike for Shelter 2012? Why? Share your story in the comments below.